Dedicated Parishioners of Holy Name of Jesus Church - Profiles
Barbara and Bob Sheehy are deeply involved in the Holy Name of Jesus Church's 100th-anniversary celebrations and various fundraising events. Barbara has a background in fashion design and dental hygiene, while Bob has dedicated over 45 years to the same company and holds leadership roles in church societies. They are proud parents and grandparents, actively contributing to their community. Robert Cloutier, another parishioner, brings his passion for music and teaching French to enrich the church community. Jane Hock, a longtime parishioner, values the church as her spiritual home and has strong family ties to its history. She recently retired from a fulfilling career as a science teacher. These profiles showcase the diverse talents and dedication within the Holy Name of Jesus Church community.
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Parishioner Profiles Barbara and Bob Sheehy are very happy to be involved in the Holy Name of Jesus Church 100th anniversary celebration. They are both very involved with Holy Name of Jesus fundraising, charitable or just for fun events. If asked to volunteer their time, they ask When, where and what do you need us to do? They have participated at all of our 100th Anniversary celebrations and volunteered at this past years events including: the Memorial Day March, Our 100th anniversary opening mass and reception, Christmas in July, the Gathering on the Lawn I and II, the Classic Car Show, HNJ Tag Sale, the Veterans Day Mass, Men s Night out, and our Turkey Shoot. Every February, Barbara works with local cemeteries to collect and recycle Christmas decorations and containers for the next season s fundraiser. Barbara has been a parishioner since she was a senior in high school. She attended Bullard Havens Technical High School acquiring knowledge in Fashion Design and Pattern Drafting. She takes pride In helping family and friends when they need a costume made or alterations ranging from slacks to wedding gowns. During and after high school, Barbara worked as a Pharmacy Technician, then moved onto working at Moore Special Tool for near 20 years. She then attended the University of Bridgeport where she earned her Associates degree in Dental Hygiene in 2002. Barbara is looking forward to going to Africa in June 2024 with her current employer on a humanitarian work mission. Barbara is also a member of the HNJ Ladies Guild and the Catholic Sokols, Group 2, Wreath 39. Bob grew up in Stratford and graduated from Bunnell High School. Bob has worked as a Sales Associate in the same company for over 45 years. Bob is currently the President of the HNJ Men s Society, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #2370. Bob is also a member of the Catholic Sokols and is also a member of Catholic Sokols, Group 2, and is President of the local Wreath. Barbara and Bob have been married for 27 years, reside in Shelton and have 2 grown children, Brett and Jessica. Brett has blessed them with 2 beautiful granddaughters, Maci (8 1 2) and Samone who will be 5 in April. Jessica and her now fianc e, Eric, were recently engaged on October 5th. Jessica works with Autistic Children full time as well as part time at Target. Barbara and Bob look forward to retirement to spend more time with their grandchildren and travel. Looking for who is playing a beautiful hymn at mass, you often will find Robert Cloutier at the organ keyboard. Growing up in the paper-mill town of Berlin, located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Robert belonged to a French-speaking parish where he was an altar server and directed the boys choir. Holy Name reminds me of the parish of my youth, Robert said. They both have a heritage rooted in different cultures. I feel at home here. For 38 years, Robert taught French in the Fairfield public schools. He loves to travel, especially through Europe. Last year, he took his 23 year-old granddaughter on a 3 week adventure through France and Italy. He also loves the beach and camping in Rhode Island. Robert and his son are Eagle Scouts and 3 grandchildren are on the Eagle trail. Robert has lived in Trumbull for 45 years, has a son and daughter and 9 grandchildren. He teamed up with our Sue Scalon at St. Catherine Church (Trumbull) for 13 years before coming to Holy Name.
Parishioner Profiles Growing up, Jane Hock lived only a few blocks from Holy Name. Even during the heaviest of snowstorms, Jane, her father and her two brothers would walk to the 7:30 mass. Jane has been married to her husband Jim, a Physician Recruiter, for 38 years. When they moved to Trumbull in 1991, she remained a Holy Name parishioner. Holy Name is the one constant in my life, Jane said. It is my spiritual home and has been my faith community for the last 65 years. Jane is delighted that work is taking place to restore and renew this beautiful church. Jane s great grandparents, Steven and Margaret Norko, helped build our Heritage Hall. Her Slovak grandparents were parishioners. Our first pastor, Msgr. Michael Carnicke, would visit their home on Burritt Avenue and play his violin. I know they would be elated that Holy Name is celebrating its 100 year anniversary, Jane said. Jane recently retired from her 33-year career as a middle school science teacher. She began at Stratford Academy and Wooster Middle School for 10 years. She continued at Madison Middle School in Trumbull for the last 23 years. Jane and Jim have three sons. Stefan, their oldest, was a Fulbright Scholar and earned a PhD from Georgetown University. He resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and infant daughter. Both he and his wife work for government Intelligence Agencies in D.C. Their other two sons graduated from Notre Dame High School in Fairfield. James, an engineer with an MBA in Finance, lives in Westport with his wife and their 15 month old son. Christian, their youngest, graduated college with a degree in Health Services, and , like his dad, is also a Physician Recruiter. He lives in White Plains, N.Y. The Hock family has a love of baseball. Jim coached their sons Little League teams and family vacations were spent traveling to a different baseball stadium around the country each summer. As a church volunteer, Jane has worked at our bake sales, is a money counter, and you will often find her greeting you on your way into mass and handing you a bulletin on your way out. Holy Name of Jesus parishioners for 41 years, Lorriane and Nestor Rios moved to Connecticut from Queens, N.Y. in 1977 when they married. They first lived in Norwalk before settling in Stratford in 1982. Nestor spent his 47 years career in computer hardware services starting at Burroughs in 1974. Now retired, he enjoys pickleball and tennis. If you want a book recommendation or want to share a book you read, see Lorraine. I read both fiction and non-fiction, Lorraine said. Nestor added, She s always reading. She reads everything. They have four children: James, who works in Animal Health care, is married to Jaclyn and has three children; Bill, single, is a computer software engineer; Laurie, a Social Worker, married Richard at Holy Name five years ago and has 3-year old twins; and Kelly, who will graduate from Medical School this May and married Michael last June. Their sons started first grade at Holy Name School, and both Lorraine and Nestor were involved with the Cub Scouts. Nestor also coached Little League for many years. I love it here, Lorraine, who serves as a Eucharistic Minister, said. You can always find a friendly face.
Parishioner Profiles For the New Year, Judy Politano said, I hope for peace, health and happiness for all my children and grandchildren who I love dearly. Judy has a daughter, Leanne Lovgren, a Surgical Tech with 20 years experience; a son, David Ferrari, who lives in Florida, where he is a magician with a large magic show and also works in sales; and 3 grandchildren. She assists as a helper teaching our Kindergarteners and First Graders at Faith Formation. Father Bert is wonderful with children, she said. I love that our Faith Formation involves families, not only children. Whole families are learning about Jesus and saints, and getting closer to God. For 31 years, Judy was a Kindergarten teacher at Bridgeport s Bryant Elementary School. For the following 10 years, she was an English as a Second Language Instructor at the International Institute for Ed Adult in Bridgeport. Currently, she works part-time as an ESL Instructor at Alinabel. Judy Politano with her son-in-law, Paul Lovgren, and her grandchildren: Paul (who made his First Communion last November 3), Lilliana and Dalton. Last July, Judy lost Michael, her husband of 30 years. Grief is a long journey, Judy said. Father Bert consoled me, and is helping me to find peace, but it s going to take time. So many of our staff are helping. She has been a parishioner for more than 40 years. I feel embraced by a wonderful, warm Parish, Judy said. I just love it here. Presently, Bob Hvisc lives in Alaska. He moved into his fishing cottage there during the pandemic and plans to stay a couple more years before coming back to Stratford where he lived starting in the 1960 s. His family became Holy Name parishioners during the merger with St. Cyril Parish. Bob is a world traveler. There s only 15 degrees of longitude I haven t been to, Bob said, And that s out in the Pacific. After graduating from Fairfield University in 1968, Bob joined the Air Force where he served as a Navigator both on active duty and in the reserves from 1968 to 1992. When not on active duty, Bob pursued a career in computers and finance that afforded opportunities to travel. Among his favorite places are Hawaii, Alaska and Germany. Back here for an extended stay during the holidays, Bob marveled at our church. I m blown away by what our forebearers built, Bob said. This building is massive in size and spirit. How amazing that they could envision a structure of this size and beauty.
Parishioner Profiles On Christmas Day, Steve Mieczkowski has a birthday cake. Not only was he born on December 25th, as he tells it with tongue-in-check, I was born in a manger, too. He was born at home on Eleanor Street in Stratford in his parents 3-family house where chickens roamed outside and grapevines grew. His Czech grandparents who lived with them honored the Christmas Eve Wigilia tradition of a multi-course, non-meat meal. The whole family gathered and you had to be there, Steve said. If you weren t, you were locked out until after the meal. We had courses of vegetables, fishes and 5 soups. When his Mom passed, Steve s sister carried on the tradition. Steve s Dad belonged to the Knights of Columbus, and Steve carried on that tradition, too, becoming one in 1977. In his long association with the Knights, Steve held all offices for the local Council, became District Deputy (for 5 Councils), worked with Grand Knights, advanced to Membership Director for the State of Connecticut, and, the 1990 s, served as the Diocese of Bridgeport Color Corp ( Honor Guard ) Commander. Since 2010, he has been the State Photographer for the Knights. Steve met Cathy on a blind date set-up by his sister-in-law. They married in 1975, and have two sons: Stephen, a computer consultant in Plymouth, MA, and Brian, a Pulmonologist/Critical Care Doctor and the Director of the ICU in a Kansas City Hospital. Though she had several jobs she loved (working in Bridgeport City Hall, answering patient call lights and transcribing doctors orders and more at the St. Vincent s Medical Center, Norwalk Radiology, and finally the Smillow Cancer Center in Trumbull), Cathy said, Raising my boys was the greatest joy of my life. They have 6 grandchildren. Steve graduated from UConn in 1973 and became a Pharmacist. Cathy graduated from St. Vincent s College with an Associate Degree in Medical Assisting. They both love helping others. I went into Pharmacy to help others, Steve said, adding The Knights are all about helping others. About her time at St. Vincent s as a Unit Secretary, Cathy said that helping nurses and doctors was so rewarding. They volunteered for church, school, Cub Scouts. We love Holy Name, Cathy said. We have found a truly meaningful religious experience here. At the holidays, the angelic voice we hear in the choir loft isn t really an angel. It s Lindsey Mraz home for the holidays. Lindsey is a rising senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, MA. She s studying Computer Science and Music with a minor in Psychology. At WPI, Lindsey is active very active. She plays the flute and trumpet (which she s learning) in the WPI Marching and Pep Band. She sings in the WPI Festival Choir. She plays piano in a jazz group, Stage Band, and flute in the Flute Choir. She s also involved with musical theater. She plays the piano in the orchestra pit for plays. She music directed the play Bonnie & Clydeand vocally music directed Something Rotten! . Lindsey grew up in Lordship but now lives close to Holy Name. I appreciate how everyone here is welcoming, Lindsey said with a smile. Lindsey attended St. Joseph High School.
